Copyholder



Oct. 20, 1964 I 1. J. MENDELs 3,153,400

coPYHoLDER Filed Feb. v'7, 1962 2 sneaks-sneer 1 INVENTOR.

l. J. MENDELS Oct. 20, 1964 Y coPYHoLmszR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb, 7, 1962 u INVENTOR fra/zz JMS/*adda United States Patent 3,153,400 CPYHLDER Irwin Il. Mendels, 542 Ridge Ave., Evanston, Ill. Filed Feb. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 171,671 4 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-33) This invention relates, in general, to copyholders, and has particular relation to an improved copyholder structure particularly adapted for use, for example, where desk space, or other space, for the copyholder is small, or relatively restricted.

Key punching machines, now extensively used in connection with IBM electronic data processing machines, are usually mounted on small desks. As a result, very little space is left for use of a copyholder.

One of the main objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved copyholder having a relatively Y short base adapted to be accommodated by relatively small desk space, or other space, and in which the structure is sufficiently rigid firmly to hold the front panel in the upright position in which it is disposed.

Another object is to provide tension means for holding the front panel rigidly in different upright inclined positions in which said panel may be disposed.

Another object is to provide an improved copyholder in which the base and the front panel have overlying flanges with the tension means coacting with one of the flanges, and in which the lower end of the front panel and the forward end of the base are pivotally connected by a tubular rivet passing through the overlying flanges and through a tension washer coacting with one of the flanges and riveted over to secure the parts together with sufficient tension between the flanges to hold the front panel firmly in the upright position in which it is disposed.

In the broader aspects of the invention, a screw with nut means thereon may be used for pivotally connecting the lower end of the front panel to the forward end of the base and securing the parts together with sufcient tension to hold the front panel firmly in the upright position in which it is disposed.

Another object is to overcome the tendency of the light gauge metal of which the base and front panel of the structure are formed to spread, by providing flat washers, for example, between the outer sides of the flanges and the head and riveted over ends of the rivets, or between the outer sides of the flanges and the screw heads and nuts threaded upon the screws.

Another object is to provide, in conjunction with the features set forth, a magnetic bar which acts magnetically through the sheet or sheets and on the surface of the front panel to hold the sheets in place; also a magnetic bar shiftable to different positions up or down along one side of the copyholder, and provided with a line guide extending across the sheet supporting surface of the front panel and held magnetically in any desired position to which it is moved.

Another object is to provide the copyholder structure with a shelf mounted on the front panel for holding cards, papers, or sheets, for example, up to about a l-inch stack, and which shelf is removable to accommodate, for example, legal size sheets of paper which may be longer than the front panel and draped at the bottom and moved up as the copy work extends to the bottom of the page.

Further features and advantages and adaptations of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the invention is limited only within the scope of the appended claims and not to the particular embodiments selected for illustration.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of one illustrated form of copyholder embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the copyholder as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the copyholder;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 4 4 0f FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through one of the pivoted connections and tension means between the base and front panel of the copyholder taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through one of the supporting buttons and the adjacent portion of the base of the copyholder taken along the line 6 6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through one of the removable attachments between the shelf and front panel of the copyholder taken along the line '7 7 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of one of the tension members shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view showing another form of pivotal connection between the base and front panel of the copyholder;

FIGURE l0 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a clamp mounted on one of the base flanges in position to hold the front panel in the inclined position in which it is disposed;

FIGURE ll is a perspective View of the clamp shown in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE l2 is a perspective view of the hold down bar looking into the open bottom thereof;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional View through the hold down bar taken along the line 13 13 of FIGURE l2;

FIGURE 14 is an inner View of the magnet bar carrying flange of the angular plastic member to which the line guide is secured, showing the magnet in the pocket therein and the line guide in section;

FIGURE 15 is a sectional View taken along the line 15 15 of FIGURE 14; and n FIGURE 16 is a sectional view partially broken away showing suction cups instead of rubber buttons or feet at the end of the base remote from the front panel.

Referring to the drawings, the copyholder 1 comprises a base 2 which in use is disposed substantially horizontally and a front panel 3 having a front sheet supporting surface 4. The base 2 has upright flanges 5 along its opposite sides and the front panel 3 has flanges 6 along its generally upright side margins. The lower ends of the flanges 6 overlie the forward ends of the flanges 5 and there are pivotal connections 7 between the forward ends of the flanges 5 and the lower ends of the flanges 6 with tension means tensioned by said pivotal connections "I as will be presently described.

The front panel 3 and base 2 are preferably formed of suitable metallic material, such as light gauge steel, particularly for the front panel 3 where a liner having a magnetic bar for holding the same in place on the copyholder, and another magnetic bar are employed as will be presently described. Other materials for the copyholder are, however, contemplated within the scope of certain aspects of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIGURE 5, the pivotal connections 7 between the lower end of the front panel 3 and the forward end of the base 2 comprise, for example, axially aligned eyelets or tubular steel or brass rivets 9, one of which extends through aligned openings 10 in the flanges 5 and 6 at one side of the copyholder and the other rivet 9 extends through aligned opening 1t? in the flanges 5 and ltension Washer 14, for example, of the form shown in FIGURE 8, and through another flat annular washer 15. The washer is disposed between the tension washer 14 and the end 16 of the rivet 9 which is flanged or riveted over to secure the rivet in place and to place the tension washer 14 under tension to bind the flanges 5 tightly against the flanges 6 and firmly to hold the front panel 3 in the different upright inclined positions in which said front panel 3 may be disposed about the pivotal connections 7.

The flat annular washers 12 and 15 hold the split tension washers 14 intact, particularly where the metal of the base 2 and front panel 3 and the flanges thereof arelight gauge steel, which would have a tendency to spread, if the flat washers were not there. Therefore, the tension washers 14 always have a constant tension. Moreover, the pressing of the flanges 5 against the flanges 6 by the tension washers 14 provides a firm holding engagement for holding the front panel 3 in the different upright inclined position in which it is disposed.

The base 2 is relatively short, which is advantageous. It is adapted to be accommodated by relatively small desk space, or other space, for example, in connection with IBM electronic data processing machines which are usually mounted on small desks, so that very little space is lefttfor the use of the copyholder, The short base 2 is adapted for use with this small space and still the copyholder is rigid enough firmly to hold the front panel in the different upright inclined positions in which it is, or may be disposed.

The height of the front panel 3 is important in some instances. When copy work is required in conjunction with the use of bookkeeping machines that have a long carriage, the height of the copyholder should be low enough so that the carriage of the bookkeeping machine passes over the top of the copyholder and the front panel 3 is Still adjustable for sight best suited for the operator.

The base 2 is preferably provided with four rubber buttons, or feet 18, one near each of the four corners thereof, as indicated in FIGURES 2, 4 and 6. These rubber buttons 18 have lower cylindrical portions 19 beneath the base 2 and reduced upper portions 20 with annular grooves 21 between the lower and upper portions. The upper portions have generally conical upper Surfaces which are pressed through openings 22 in the base 2 and snap over the upper surface of the base 2 with the base disposed in the grooves 21 to hold the buttons in place.

A shelf 25 is mounted on the front of the front panel 3 for holding cards, papers, or sheets up, for example, to a l-inch stack. This holds the sheets, cards, or papers when the use of a magnet bar, to be presented described, is not employed. When in place the shelf 25 extends out at right angles from the panel 3 and has a flange 26 which is removably attached for removable attachment of the shelf to the panel 3. Removal of the shelf accommodates legal size sheets lof paper, usually longer than the panel 3. The sheet, or sheets may be draped at the bottom and moved up as the copy work extends to the bottom of the page.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the removable attachment of the shelf 2S to the panel 3 may be accomplished by plug Y buttons 28 having spring fingers 29 adapted to be pressed through aligned openings 30 in the shelf flange 26 and panel 3 and to expand at 311 inwardly of the panel 3 firmly to secure the shelf 25 in place. Removal of the shelf 25 is accomplished by snapping the buttons 28 and particularly the spring fingers 29 thereof out of the openings 30'.

An angular member 32 having a magnet bar in the portion presented to the flange 6 of the front panel 3 is shiftable to different positions up and down along the flange 6, and is held magnetically to this flange 6 in any desired position. A line guide 34 is secured to the member 32, for example, by rivets 35, and extends across the sheet supporting surface 4 of the panel 3, and, therefore, across the sheet supported on said surface 4. The member 32 may be formed of plastic material with the magnet bar therein and presented to the lflange 6. The line guide 34 may be formed of flexible plastic material.

A hold down bar 40 comprises a generally channelshaped plastic member having end pockets opening toward the surface 4 of the front panel 3. Magnet bars secured within these end pockets and presented to the surface 4 of the panel 3 act magnetically on the panel 3 and through the sheet or sheets on the panel 3 to hold the sheet or sheets in place. Bar 40 may be removed by simply lifting the same from the surface 4 against the magnetism holding it in place and may be `applied in any desired position. The line guide may be removed by simply withdrawing the member 32 with its magnet bar away from the flange 6.

FIGURE 9 shows another form of pivotal connection for pivoting the lower end of the front panel to the forward end of the base of the copyholder. In this form, a screw 45 extends through aligned openings 10 in the side flanges 5 and 6 at one side of the copyholder, and a similar screw extends through aligned openings 1G in the side flanges 5 and 6 at the other side of the copyholder,

Each screw passes through a flat annular washer 12 interposed between the head 46 of the screw 45 and the outer surface of the flange 6'; also through a split tension Washer 14', for example, of the form previously described, and through another flat annular washer 15. The tension washer 14 is disposed between the flange 5' and the flat annular washer 15 and nuts 48 screwed upon the shank of the screw 45 secure the screws 45 in place and place the tension washers 14 under tension as previously described. The screw 45 is thus secured in place pivotally connecting the flanges 5 and 6 and the tightening of the nuts 43 places the tension washer 14 under tension to bind the flange 5 tightly against the flange 6', whereby firmly to hold the front panel in the different upright inclined positions in which said front panel may be disposed about the pivotal connections afforded by the screws 45.

As before, the flat annular washers 12 and 15 hold the tension washers 14 intact, particularly where the metal of the base and front panel and the flanges thereof are light gauge steel, which would have a tendency to spread if the flat washers were not there. Therefore, as before, the tension washers 14 always have a constant tension. Moreover, as before, the pressing of the flanges 5 against the flanges 6 by the tension washers 14 provides a firm holding engagement for holding the front panel in the different inclined positions in which it is or may be disposed.

FIGURES l0 and ll show a spring metal and inverted generally U-shaped clamp 50 broadened outwardly at the top at 51 with an inwardly concave flange 52 at the lower end of the outer side 53 of the clamp. Clamps such as this when snapped over the upright flanges 5 of the base 2 of the copyholder with the forward ends of `the outwardly broadened upper ends 51 abutting the flanges 6 of the front panel 3 as shown in FIGURE l0 effectively hold the front panel 3 in the different upright inclined positions in which said panel 3 is disposed even if the tension means should become somewhat released after use.

In FIGURES l2 and 13 the hold down bar 40 is shown as comprising a generally channel-shaped plastic member 66, formed, for example, of Vinylite, with closed ends 61 and an open bottom 62. Plastic walls 63 extend transversely between the side walls 64, which are closed at the top. The walls 63 are in spaced relation with regard to the closed ends 61 and form pockets 64. A magnet bar 66 is secured within each pocket 65 and these magnet bars 66 are exposed through the open bottom 62 of the generally channel-shaped member '66 for presentation to the surface 4 of panel 3 and act magnetically on the panel and through the sheet or sheets on the panel to hold the sheet or sheets in place.

As shown in FIGURE 13, the magnet bars 66 have tapered sides 63. A suitable adhesive 69 -is applied within the pockets 65 and the magnet bars 66 are inserted with their wider ends at the inner ends of the pockets. The adhesive 69 flows over the tapered sides 68 as shown at 70, and, when set, securely retains the magnet bars 66 in place within the pockets 65.

The adhesive 69 may be Duco cement, or any other suitable adhesive. 'The magnet bars 66 may be formed of Alnico 5 magnetized after being fixed in place in the pockets 65.

1n FIGURES 14 and 15 the member 32 to which the line guide 34 is secured has a pocket 72 in the surface presented to the flange 6. A magnet bar 73 is secured within the pocket 72 and acts magnetically to hold the line guide to the flange 6. Like the magnet bars 66, the magnet bar 73 has tapered sides 74. A suitable adhesive 75 is applied within the pocket 72 and the bars 73 is inserted with its wider inner end at the inner end of the pocket 72. The adhesive 75 iiows over the tapered sides 74 as shown at 76, and, when set, rigidly retains the magnet bar 73 in place within the pocket 72. The adhesive and magnet materials may be of the character set forth in connection with the magnet bars 66 and adhesive 69, or other suitable character.

The suction cups 80 shown in FIGURE 16 at the end of the base 2 remote from the front panel are rubber suction cups having the headed ends of screws 81 secured therein at 82. The screws 81 pass through openings S3 in the base 2 and have nuts 84 .screwed on their upper ends to secure the suction cups 80 to the bottom of the base 2.

The suction cups 80 open downwardly and when pressed onto the desk, or other support for the copyholder, act to hold the copyholder firmly in place and against vibration due, for example, to the action of the key punching, or other machine, with which the copyholder is used.

The embodiments of the invention disclosed in the drawings land the specification are for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be expressly understood that said drawings and the specification are not to be construed as a deiinition of the limits or scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

l claim:

1. A copyholder comprising a generally horizontally disposed base member having upright flanges Valong opposite sides thereof, a generally upright front panel member having along opposite sides thereof flanges overlying the flanges of said base member, pivot means extending through openings in said lianges and secured in place pivotally to connect the lower end of said front panel member lto the forward end of said base member, tension means tensioned by securement in place of said pivot means for holding said front panel member firmly in different upright inclined positions in which said front panel member may be arranged, and clamp members snapped over the upright flanges of the base member with their forward ends abutting the langes of the panel member to hold the front panel member in the different upright inclined positions in which said panel member may be disposed.

2. A copyholder comprising a generally horizontally disposed base member having upright flanges along opposite sides thereof, a generally upright front panel member having along opposite sides thereof lianges overlying the anges on said base member, pivot means extending through openings in said flanges and secured in place pivotally to connect the lower end of said front panel member to the forward end of said base member, and a clamp member snapped over at least one of the upright anges of the base member with its forward end abutting the flange of the panel member to hold the front panel member in the different upright inclined positions in which said panel member may be disposed.

3. A copyholder having a metallic sheet supporting member, a member shiftable to diiferent positions along a portion of said sheet supporting member and having a pocket therein, a magnet bar secured within said pocket and presented to a portion of said supporting member, said magnet bar acting magnetically to hold said shiftable member in the desired position, said magnet bar having tapered sides and positioned in said pocket with its wider inner end at the inner end of said pocket, and an adhesive disposed within said pocket and over the tapered sides of said magnet bar to hold said magnet bar securely within said pocket.

4. A copyholder comprising a generally horizontally disposed base member for support upon a supporting surface, a genenally upright front panel pivotally connected at its lower end to the forward end of said base member and adjustable to dilferent inclinations, a rearwardly extending metallic tlange along at least one side of said front panel, an angular plastic member shiftable to different positions up and down along said metallic iiange and having a iirst leg presented to said flange and a second leg extending outwardly from said first leg, said first leg having a pocket presented to said flange, a magnet bar secured within said pocket and acting magnetically to hold said plastic member to said ange in different positions along said flange, a plastic line guide secured to said second leg of said angular plastic member and extending across the outer surface of said front panel, said magnet bar having tapered sides positioned in said pocket with its wider inner end at the inner end of said pocket, and an adhesive disposed within said pocket and over the tapered sides of said magnet bar to hold said magnet bar securely within said pocket.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 958,448 Vossberg May 17, 1910 1,115,021 Pummill Oct. 27, `1914 1,245,821 Thompson Nov. 6, 1917 1,340,273 Jones May 18, 1920 1,477,331 Ely ,Dec. 11, 1923 1,932,109 Judson Oct. 24, 1933 1,980,709 Van Alstyne Nov. 13, 1934 2,014,176 Henderson Sept. 10, 1935 2,041,336 Hall May 19, 1936 2,193,991 Treacy Mar. 19, 1940 2,194,019 Hartsell Mar. 19, 1940 2,541,513 Hassett Feb. 13, 1951 2,600,533 Harris June 17, 1952 2,849,201 Schelgunov Aug. 26, 1958 3,081,739 Mendels Mar. 19, 1963 3,089,464 Mendels May 14, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,091,034 France Oct. 27, 1954 

1. A COPYHOLDER COMPRISING A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BASE MEMBER HAVING UPRIGHT FLANGES ALONG OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, A GENERALLY UPRIGHT FRONT PANEL MEMBER HAVING ALONG OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF FLANGES OVERLYING THE FLANGES OF SAID BASE MEMBER, PIVOT MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH OPENINGS IN SAID FLANGES AND SECURED IN PLACE PIVOTALLY TO CONNECT THE LOWER END OF SAID FRONT PANEL MEMBER TO THE FORWARD END OF SAID BASE MEMBER, TENSION MEANS TENSIONED BY SECUREMENT IN PLACE OF SAID PIVOT MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID FRONT PANEL MEMBER FIRMLY IN DIFFERENT UPRIGHT INCLINED POSITIONS IN WHICH SAID FRONT PANEL MEMBER MAY BE ARRANGED, AND CLAMP MEMBERS SNAPPED OVER THE UPRIGHT FLANGES OF THE BASE MEMBER WITH THEIR FORWARD ENDS ABUTTING THE FLANGES OF THE PANEL MEMBER TO HOLD THE FRONT PANEL MEMBER IN THE DIFFERENT UPRIGHT INCLINED POSITIONS IN WHICH SAID PANEL MEMBER MAY BE DISPOSED. 